Friday, 17 January 2014

Stem cell injection can help in meniscus regeneration

A single injection containing mesenchymal stem cells following meniscus knee surgery may provide significant pain relief and aid in meniscus regeneration, according to a new study appearing in the latest issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

More than one million knee arthroscopy procedures are performed each year in the U.S., primarily for the treatment of tears meniscal tears, the wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as "shock absorbers" between the thighbone and shinbone in the knee joint.

In the current study, named "Adult Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) Delivered via Intra-Articular Injection to the Knee, Following Partial Medial Meniscectomy," most patients who received a single injection of adult stem cells following the surgical removal of all or part of a torn meniscus, reported a significant reduction in pain.

Some patients - 24 percent of one MSC group and 6 percent of another - experienced at least a 15 percent increase in meniscal volume at one year post-op. There was no additional increase in meniscal volume at year two.

"The results demonstrated that high doses of mesenchymal stem cells can be safely delivered in a concentrated manner to a knee joint without abnormal tissue formation." said lead study author C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., MD.

"No one has ever done that before. In addition, the patients with arthritis got strong improvement in pain and some experienced meniscal regrowth." he added.

Specific Study Details

The study involved 55 patients, ages 18 to 60, who underwent a partial medial meniscectomy (the surgical removal of all or part of a torn meniscus) at seven medical institutions. Patients were randomly placed in one of three treatment groups:

Group A patients (18) received a "low-dose" injection of 50 million stem cells within seven to 10 days after meniscus surgery

Group B patients (18), a higher dose of 100 million stem cells

Group C, control group (19)," that receved sodium hyaluronate only.

Patients were assessed to evaluate safety, meniscus regeneration through MRI and X-ray images, overall condition of the knee joint and clinical outcomes through two years. While most of the patients had some arthritis, patients with severe (level three or four) arthritis, in the same compartment as the meniscectomy, were excluded from the study.

Key Study Findings
Somemajor key findings were the following:

There was no abnormal (ectopic) tissue formation or "clinically important" safety issues identified

There was "significantly increased meniscal volume," determined by an MRI in 24 percent of the patients in the low-dose injection group (A) and six percent of the high-dose injection group (B) at one year. There was no statistical increase in meniscal volume at two years

No patients in the control group (non-MSC group) met the 15 percent threshold for increased meniscal volume

Patients with osteoarthritis experienced a reduction in pain in the stem cell treatment groups; there was no reduction in pain in the control (non-MSC group)

"The results of this study suggest that mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to improve the overall condition of the knee joint. "I am very excited and encouraged by the results. With the success of a single injection, it begs the question: What if we give a series of injections" said Dr. Vangsness.

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